Adapting to Climate Change

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Local governments serve as the first responders to floods, wild fires, extreme heat events and other impacts of global warming. Many communities are beginning to develop strategies that will reduce their vulnerability to the impacts of a changing climate. This type of action is commonly referred to as adaptation. The main goal of adaptation is to improve local resilience, and the ability to respond to short and long term climate impacts.

Communities along America's coast-lines were the first to focus on the need to adapt to our changing climate. While the cities of Seattle, New Orleans, Anchorage, and San Francisco, are developing plans to respond to rising sea levels, hurricanes, and melting glaciers, cities in the desert southwest have focused adaptation efforts on ensuring sustainable water supplies, protecting vulnerable populations in extreme heat events, and developing land use designs that minimize the impact of urban heat island effects.

To learn more about the city of Phoenix Climate Adaptation programs, click on the links below.